Last time I focused on the match-up history statistic and why it is akin to a pacifier for commentators.  Today I have a stat for you which is certainly not meaningless and which should be quoted more often in the community: Passing Accuracy.  In fact it is probably one of the most important meter sticks with which to judge individual performance and skill.  Completed Passes are the passes initiated by a player which find their way to a teammate.  Passing Accuracy is the percentage representation of completed passes divided by total passes.

What does Passing Accuracy (PA) tell us about a player?  The simple answer is that PA tells us how skilled a player is at retaining possession for the team during passing.  But PA also reveals information about the player’s Decision Making, Composure, Positioning, and Technical Ability, all different skills which contribute to making a successful pass.

Who are the best passers in the league as of Game 3?  Players were broken down by role and only players with 100+ passes were included.

Defenders

1. Ashley Cole (Chelsea) – 143 passes – 92.3% accuracy

2. Nemanja Vidic (Man United) – 171 passes – 91.8% accuracy

3. Kolo Toure (Man City) – 183 passes – 89.6% accuracy

Midfielders

1. Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal) – 116 passes – 92.2% accuracy

2. Abou Diaby (Arsenal) – 178 passes – 92.1% accuracy

3. John Obi Mikel (Chelsea) – 260 passes – 90.4% accuracy

Forwards

1. Dimitar Berbatov (Man United) – 142 passes – 87.3% accuracy

2. Elliot Grandin (Blackpool) – 120 passes – 85.8% accuracy

3. Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) – 113 passes – 80.5% accuracy

And who is the worst passer in the league? Kevin Davies (Bolton) 106 passes – 54.7% accuracy

Check back next week for an update.